Chapter 9 - THE LITTLE GIRL WHO FINALLY SPOKE
Leah began talking more after Cassandra disappeared.
Not all at once.
Not easily.
But slowly.
She asked for pancakes.
Requested her favorite yellow blanket.
And began calling me “Emmy.”
One afternoon, we sat on the living room carpet building a tower from wooden blocks.
Leah placed a blue block on top.
Then stared at it.
I waited.
She touched the block.
“Blue room bad.”
I nodded.
“You didn't like it.”
She shook her head.
“Lady make noise.”
“I know.”
Her eyes filled.
“Leah cry.”
I moved closer.
“That must have been scary.”
She nodded.
Then whispered:
“Daddy no come.”
My heart broke.
I swallowed.
“Daddy didn't know.”
Leah looked at me.
“Daddy mad?”
“No, sweetheart.”
I took her hand.
“Daddy loves you.”
She stared at me.
Then asked:
“Daddy come now?”
I smiled gently.
“Yes.”
That evening, Matteo sat beside her on the floor.
Leah looked at him.
“Daddy?”
“Yes, princess?”
“No blue room.”
Matteo's eyes filled.
“No blue room.”
She studied him.
“Promise?”
He nodded.
“I promise.”
Leah hesitated.
Then crawled into his lap.
Matteo wrapped his arms around her.
For the first time in months, she let him hold her without struggling.
He buried his face in her hair.
And cried.
I stood in the doorway.
Watching.
May you like
Not because everything was healed.
But because healing had finally begun.
